Luna Leo

Meet Azelea

I could feel his intense gaze as he sized me with his eyes from head to toe. What was that feeling again? Nervousness.

It made my stomach churn and my chest burn and I was almost hit by nausea but it missed just a bit. I had to comport myself.

I could not dare to try to even throw up because I would explain what had happened to me.

As soon as I was done serving his meal, I walked a bit nearer to father to serve his food.

I heaved a sigh of relief as fresh air instantly hit me, making me a bit better.

I raised my head to meet his and immediately put it down as I was shy. It was the Alpha. Alpha Azalea.

He was indeed beautiful and I could feel my heart begin to flutter. No, I wasn’t happy but I was honored.

Not like I had a choice though. I looked at father as he sat quietly, a smile on his face.

From the look on his face, one could never tell if he can hurt a fly as he had always looked innocent but he wasn’t.

He had just sold me to Alpha Azalea without battling an eyelid yet he wanted me to be comfortable with it.

I diverted my gaze to my mother. She faked a smile that one could tell was fake. She sat next to my father.

Mother had suffered all along yet she was still in love with her husband.

No, Father never cared about her but she had cared about him all and over and had gone to have six pups for him. Me inclusive.

I was the last of the six pups and I can always not help but wonder how much more mother would have had if my older sister had not been born.

Well…. I was a mistake. Unplanned actually.

Unfortunately, three of my older brothers had lost their lives in a painful battle. A discussion for the next day.

“Leonora, I think we are all good. Have your seat”

Father’s husky voice interrupted me as I was still standing at his side. I had served every other person on the table; my oldest brother, Ellington, his bride, Ophelia, and their little adorable female pup, Primrose.

Primrose was just four years of age, and my older sister, Millicent was sitting by the right, close to Ophelia, with Primrose on her lap.

My heart raced as I was to sit down. I was to sit very close to my proposed groom.

“She cooks really well”

A smile formed on Alpha Azalea's face as he tasted my soup.

Well, it was mushroom soup and mother had asked me to prepare it as it was the royals' favorite.

“Yes. All my pups are very good. They are well-trained. This is the least of what she can cook.

She cooks well and yes, she is very skilled in archery and sword fighting. She would be very supportive when you are to go for battles.

She was perfectly groomed for you”

Father quickly dished out, demonstrating as he spoke with a smile on his face, revealing his crooked broken teeth that happened as a result of a fight.

Behind the smile was a feeling of nervousness. He acted scared, perhaps, Alpha Azalea would want to call off the engagement. That would have made me happy though.

A smile formed on Ophelia's as well as Millicent's faces as they were impressed by how the Alpha praised me. I, on the other hand, was indifferent.

It did not mean a thing to me. I sat gently, trying to hide my nervousness as I took the spoon, my hands trembling.

“Leo, tell him other things you can do”

I choked on the soup that had been put in my mouth as the last thing I expected was what my father said.

Azalea hurriedly grabbed a cup and placed it in my mouth.

“Drink” He ordered. Although he said it with care and affection, it still sounded like an order.

He placed his hand on my back, patting me gently.

Immediately his palm came in contact with my skin, I felt the rushing of wind through me and again, began to feel hot within.

Goosebumps filled my body. Oh! If I could give a perfect description of what I felt that minute! But the feeling is indescribable!

“Thank you” I managed to mutter as I took my mouth away from the cup.

U was flushed. I could see the smile on Ophelia and Millicent's faces, even little Primrose smiled.

They seemed happy for me but I wasn’t so happy for me. I wasn't so sad either. I just could not imagine father marrying me off.

The look of fear on Ellington and mother's face dissipated as soon as they saw that I was okay.

“Oh thank you so much. I believe your beauty made my daughter choke.

You are an embodiment of beauty and I know there can not be a better match for my daughter.

She is very great and responsible and helps a lot with the…..”

Father went on and on with his description and praises.

I rolled my eyes as his story bored me but Azalea didn’t seem bored as he wanted to know everything about me so even when Father told him boring stories of how I fell from a tree when I was three years of age to when I had slept in the market when I was four, he was ready to listen to it all.

“Let us clean the table” Ophelia smiled at me.

Joy was an understatement of how I felt that very minute. Perhaps, she had seen the look of disinterest on my face and wanted to help me get out of there.

“Yes, we should” I stood up immediately.

Even though I was not done with my soup, I had lost my appetite.

Eating while sitting by Azalea's side was difficult. It was not something I could do.

“You are not done with your meal. I would help Ophelia instead. You can go on with your meal”

My hope was shattered immediately as Millicent offered to take my place.

If I could strangle her that minute, I would because I was so upset.

“No, I…”

“Yes, that is true. Sit and eat your meal while your sisters do the dishes.” Father added.

Covered with shame, I sat down slowly. I could not dare to look at my groom's face.

Ophelia and Millicent packed up the table and headed to the kitchen.

“Primrose and I will be in the garden” Ellington announced as he carried Primrose and with a smile on her face, she embraced him.

Her red curly hair was just like mine and mother's in contrast to the raven black straight mane of her father and the brown curly hair of her mother.

“I need to finish the laundry” Mother stood up.

I was about to stand up and leave too when Father stood up instead.

“The water pipe got broken. I need to fix it”.

Of course, that was a blatant lie. The pipe had been fixed about four days ago. It possibly could not have gotten spoilt real quick. It was a setup!

I was left alone with my groom.

I bowed my head and pretended not to notice his intense gaze on my skin that was exposed in the below-shoulder top I was wearing.

“So…” His hands slowly made its way on top of mine. I shot my head quickly and again, …..choked.